A breath of fresh air in more ways than one

Since it was established in 2007 as a supplier of quality print equipment and consumables for the print industry Yorkshire-based Global Print Solutions (GPS) has gone from strength to strength.

GPS which began in a small office seven years ago, ends 2014 on a high. after moving into stunning new premises.

GPS has a refreshing attitude to the problems faced by the print industry and to this end is at the cutting edge of new product development. In order to meet the increasing demands of the end consumer it is vital that print companies keep up-to-date with the latest technology and invest in their future.

Director Paul Brook is proud of the fact that 95% of the machinery he supplies is UK manufactured and boasts excellent green credentials. Together with Mel Revitt the company has grown steadily and GPS is the UK and Ireland agent for the DST system, which has been credited as the future of transfer printing.

When looking to move into larger premises Mr Brook was anxious that the facilities had to be a match for the green products GPS supplies and the Bullhouse Mill complex was an ideal fit. Situated in a beautiful location on the edge of the Pennines with the River Don running past the site, Bullhouse Mill is as far removed from the stereotypical image of an industrial unit, as it is possible to be. The site is clustered around the Old Corn Mill, a restored three-storey mill building dating from 1750, which is one of only about 115 carbon negative commercial properties in England and Wales. A combination of solar panels, wind turbines and waterpower means the building produces more energy than it uses. The exported surplus effectively removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere giving it an energy performance rating of A+. The other units around the old mill benefit from this and are more sustainable too. Despite being in such a rural setting Bullhouse Mill is easy to get to being 10 miles from Sheffield and not far from the M1.

Moving to Bullhouse Mill has given GPS the ability to house its range of bespoke equipment and provides a comfortable environment for demonstrating and training. The large print floor currently houses a clean burn dryer, a GPS twin bed automatic heat press an Oki C910 printer that prints 16 sheets a minute and a hand bench, static bar to remove static from transfers. Also there is a Nano pneumatic free flat bed machine with single-phase operation. Both the hand bench and the Nano print now have the newly developed vacuum light bed to assist with the accurate registration of transfers. A Xerox 8080 is to be added during November 2014. There is also a range of auxiliary stencil making and screen drying equipment. It is from here that clients can see the DST process for themselves and also receive the training, which means they are then able to hit the floor running with this new process.

The unit also has a spacious office and a meeting area providing a quiet space for discussions. A stroll around the complex gives an opportunity to see the range of other companies who share the same vision for sustainable business as GPS and also the chance to see the wildlife on the doorstep and marvel at the peace and quiet – real breath of fresh air.

The GPS showroom and training facility has already welcomed visitors from across the UK and indeed across the globe.